Carton



F. D. PALMER Nov. 2, 1948.

CARTON 3 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed July 3, 1944 [RI/672%? F072 fl f czlmer F. D. PALMER Nov. 2, 1948.

CARTON 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 3, 1944 NOV. 2, 1948. PALMER 2,452,952

CARTON Filed July 3, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ii; 7:: m r v a I I F I Patented Nov. 2, 1948 CARTON Frank D. Palmer, Chicago, Ill., assignor to F. D.

Palmer, Inc., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application July 3, 1944, Serial No. 543,312

3 Claims. (01. 229-55) This invention relates to the production of paperboard cartons or containers, and it has particular reference to certain features of end closure construction.

The main objects of the invention are to provide a paperboard carton with an end closure which may be easily and effectively secured to the body of the container in such a manner as to provide a hermetically sealed, sift-proof container; to provide a substantially flush end closure wherein attaching portions thereof enter within the container body; and other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings (three sheets), wherein there is disclosed several forms of package construction embodying the present invention.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective illustrating one form of the improved container construction;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan of a blank employed to form the end closure for the container shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 more or less diagrammatically illustrate successive steps in the formation and application of the improved end closure and its application to a'container body;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan illustrating a corner portion of the end closure blank in the partially formed condition shown in Fig.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective of another container closure structure embodying some of the elements of the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, together with certain additional features, the container being shown in partially closed condition;

Fig. 11 is a perspective corresponding to Fig. 10, but showing the structure in closed condition;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line l2--l2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary perspective corresponding to Fig. 10 but showing another form of construction in partially closed condition, and

Fig. 14 is a section through the end closure of the structure shown in Fig. 13 when in fully closed condition.

The improved container structure herein illustrated comprises a tubular body member I which, in this instance, is illustrated as being of rectangular form. Said body accordingly has four side walls and it is formed in the usual manner from a single blank of material suitably scored so as to be foldable to the said rectangular tubular form, the opposite ends of the walls being suitably united by a glue flap or the like in the 2 conventional manner. Both ends of the tubular body may be closed by the same type of end closure, one end being designated 2 and the other end 3. In the following explanation, reference will be made to the top end closure only.

The end closure may be formed from a blank 4, such as illustrated in Fig. 3. Said blank is suitably scored or creased to define a central or main end wall panel 5 and peripheral flange portions around said main panel. The peripheral flange portions are further scored so as to divide the same into inner portions 6, outer portions 1 and other, or intermediate, portions 8. The inner portions 6 have their adjacent ends integrally connected by web portions 9, and the adjacent ends of the outer and intermediate portions are separated from each other as shown.

A blank, such as illustrated in Fig. 3, is first subjected to certain forming operations, which are illustrated in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive. The: first step consists in placing the blank in proper position on the upper end of a punch member llll, which is relatively vertically movable within a surrounding sleeve-like member ll. After the blank is in place on the end of the punch member In, a die member I2 is moved downwardly relative to the punch member l0 so as to fold the inner flange portions 6 to a downwardly and outwardly inclined position against the beveled or angular end wall portions iii of the punch member Ill. The sleeve-like member II is disposed in such position that its upper end engages the intermediate flange portions 8 to thereby effect a preliminary upward bending of the flange portions 8 and I relative to the inner flange portion l3, Thereupon, the sleeve H ismoved upwardly relative to the punch member l0 and relative to the die member l2, so as to fold said intermediate flange portions 8 to vertically upwardly extending position against the side walls [4 of the lower end portion of the die l2. During such upward folding of the intermediate flange portions 8, the outer flange portions I engage the lower ends of depending hook-like members I5, which serve to bend or fold said outer flange portion I downwardly relative to the intermediate flange portions 8 (see Fig. 6). The punch 18 and die l2, together with the interposed and partially folded blank, are moved in unison upwardly within the surrounding members l5, which are thereby caused to continue the downward folding of said outer flange portion 1 until such flange portions are disposed in downwardly and upwardly extending position against the outer surfaces iii of the sleeve member I I. The hook-like folders l5 are I so proportioned that when they reach their lowermost positions, the hook end portions 11 thereof member I2, owing to the gripping effect of thehook-like folders l5. Thereafter, a carton body may be placed in position under the formed-up end closure member in the die structure i2, and

the latter moved downwardly relative to the carton body, so as to cause the flange portions 1 and.

8 to embrace a marginal end portion of the container body, substantially as shown in Fig. 1. The flange portions 1 and 8 may be adhesively coated on the surfaces thereof which engage the inside and outside surfaces respectively of the container body, and the folding member l5 may be so actuated as to exert pressure to squeeze the flange portions 3 and'8 and the intervening body portion tightly together, and against the lower end portion of the die I2. If preferred, the said flange portions 1 and 8 may be coated with heat sealable material, and either or both the die l2 and the folding members 15 may be electrically or otherwise heated so as to reactivate such heat sealing coating, to thereby effect attachment of the end closure to the marginal end portion of the container body. If desired, the end portion of the container body, or for that matter, the entire container body may also be coated with heat sealable material which may also serve the function of moisture-proofing the container. In such a case, the end closure should also be coated on either or both of its surfaces toco-operate with the body coating to render the container moisture and air impervious.

When the inner flange portions 6 are folded to their angular position shown in Fig. 5, the webportions 9, which join the adjacent ends of said inner flange'portions, will buckle outwardly or be folded to an outwardly projecting position, as represented at 9a in Figs. 5 and 9. By inspection of Fig. 9, it will be seen that said outwardly folded '.eb or gusset portion 9 projects outwardly beyond the normal planes of the inside surfaces of the container body, which would coincide approximately with the fold lines i8 and I8, about which the intermediate flange portions 8 are folded into upwardly extending position for application against the inside faces of the container walls. When the end closure member 5 is inserted into the container body, said buckled or folded web portion 9 is cramped into the corner of the container so as to completely flll and close the same, whereby an effective sift-proof corner seal is provided.

It will, of course, be understood that said web portion 9 is deformed from the condition illustrated in Fig. 9 to fit within the corner portion of thecontainer, and that whether or not said connecting web is coated with adhesive or heat sealable material, an effective sift-proof seal will the adjacent ends 20 and 2| of the intermediate flange portions 8 when the latter are folded to their outwardly extending position against the inside of the container walls. As shown in Fig. 9, the flange portions 8 and I extend outwardly and downwardly from the fold lines l8 and I9, and it will be readily understood that when said intermediate portions 8 are folded to upwardly extending position, the ends 20 and 2| thereof will squeeze between them the buckled web portion 9a; hence, said buckled web portion serves to effectively fill any space which may otherwise occur between the ends of the intermediate flange sections 8, thereby avoiding possible leaks due to any failure to cause tight interengagement of said ends 20 and 2|.

As shown in Fig. 2, the main or central panel 5 of the end closure 2 is substantially flush with the end of the container body I, and there is provided a relatively narrow outwardly facing peripheral recess or groove 22 on the end of the container. Said outwardly facing groove or recess is of such narrow width as to be substantially unobjectionable, and it facilitates the application of pressure for tightly squeezing the flange portions 1 and 8 into engagement with the intervening marginal end portion of the container body I. The elimination of a completely recessed end by the arrangement'described, provides a substantially flush end package which facilitates stacking the packages one upon the other. The relatively small peripheral recess 22 provided in the described structure is much less objectionable than a fully recessed end closure from the standpoint of cleanliness.

In some instances, it may be desired to avoid even the presence of the relatively small peripheral recess 22, while at the same time retaining the advantages flowing therefrom in respect of secure and leakproof attachment of the end closure to the container body. One manner of accomplishing this purpose is represented in Figs. 10 to 12 inclusive, wherein the end closure member 23 corresponds to the end closure member 4, except that the outer portions I of the peripheral flange have been eliminated. The end closure 23 accordingly embodies a main panel 511 and a peripheral flange having an inner downwardly and outwardly inclined portion 6a and vertically upwardly extending portions 811. The

flange portions 8a may be adhesively united be produced because of the bulk of material portion with the container body. Said web portion 9 when buckled to the condition illustrated in So, will be disposed at least partially between under pressure to the surrounding marginal end portion of the container body la in a manner similar to that in which the flange portions 1 and 8 are united to the body in the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive. In this modified arrangement, the walls of the container body are provided with end flaps 24, 25, 26 and 21, which are foldable inwardly into overlying relation to the end member 23, so as to cover the peripheral recess 28 of the end member 23.

As shown in Figs. 10 to.12 inclusive, the end flaps 24 to 21 inclusive are so proportioned or shaped that when they are folded into overlying relation to the end member 23, their edges will abut one another to form, in effect, a single ply cover over the end closure 23. The flaps 24 to 21 inclusive may, of-course, be adhesively secured to the underlying closure portion 23 so as to hold the said flaps in closed position or, if preferred, a suitable seal or label may be applied over the outside of the closed flaps to hold the same in closed condition.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the end closure 23 is illustrated as being formed ing, and it may be secured to the surrounding marginal end portions of the walls of the con tainer l-b. The form of the end closure 29 may be the same as that explained above in connection with Figs. 10, 11 and 12, so that the end closure is wholly disposed within the container body with its main end wall or panel substantially flush with the end of the container body. The walls of the container body l--b may be each provided with end flaps 30, 3|, 32 and 33, of which the flaps 30 and 3i may be of such size as to overlie the entire end area of the container, while the flaps 32 and 33 each overlie substantially'onehalf such end area. The flaps 32 and 33 may be first folded inwardly into overlying relation to the end closure 29, after which the flaps 3.0 and 3i may be folded inwardly into overlapping relation to said flaps 32 and 33 and the end closure 29. Said flaps 30 and 3| are also then disposed in mutually overlapping relationship, and they may be adhesively, or otherwise united. If preferred, the flaps 30 to 33 inclusive may be held in their folded position by the application of a suitable seal or label secured to the flap 30 and extending downwardly and secured to a portion of the adjacent side wall of the container. Such an arrangement provides a convenient reclosable package, and the thin paper or foil end member may constitute a sealing member which is adapted to be broken when the package is to be opened. The insert end closure 23 constitutes, in eflect, a frangible inner seal which is efiectively protected against damage by the plural-ply-flapformed cover.

The described structure is, of course, subject to certain modifications, while retaining the benefits of the described structure.

I claim:

1. A paperboard container having a plurality of side walls joined at their edges to form a tubular body, an end closure within said body, said end closure embodying a panel disposed substantially flush with the end of said body and provided with a peripheral flange having inner portions respectively corresponding to the walls of said body and extending inwardly of the latter, intermediate portions extending outwardly from said inner portions, outer portions refolded relative to said intermediate portions so as to be disposed outside of the body, marginal end portions of said body walls being disposed between and adhesively secured in face-to-face relation to said intermediate and outer flange portions, said closure also having web portions integrally connecting the adjacent ends of said inner flange portions. said web portions being normally foldable to outwardly projecting position between the adjacent ends of said intermediate flange portions, and said web portions being cramped into the corners of said body to thereby form sift-proof corner seals.

2. A paperboard container comprising a tubular body having a plurality of side walls, and an end closure, said end closure embodying a panel disposed adjacent the plane of the end of said body and a peripheral flange, said flange having inner portions respectively corresponding to the walls of said body and extending inwardly of the latter and other portions extending outwardly from said inner portions in face to face engagement with the inside of the respective wall portions of said body, said closure also having web portions integrally connecting the adjacent ends of said inner flange portions, and said web portions being folded to outwardly projecting positions between the adjacent ends of said wall engaging flange portions and being cramped into the corners of said body to provide the container with sift-proof corner seals.

3. 'A paperboard container comprising a tubular body, and an end closure embodying a panel disposed adjacent the plane of the end of said body and a peripheral flange, said flange having an inner portion extending angularly outwardly from said panel and inwardly of said body and an- 1 other portion extending outwardly from said inner 36 Number portion in face to face engagement with the inside of said body and adhesively secured thereto, said flange portion providing an outwardly facing recess therebetween for facilitating the application of pressure to said interengaging flange and body portions for sealing the same together, said closure also having web portions integrally connecting the adjacent ,ends of said inner flange portions, said web portions being folded to outwardly projecting positions between the adjacent ends of said wall engaging flange portions and being cramped into corners of said body to provide the container with sift-proof corner seals, and said body being provided with end flaps extending from the ends of its walls and folded into outwardly overlying relation to said end closure, thereby to provide the container with a smooth and recess-free end wall.

D. PALMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Diemer Aug. 23, 1887 Drake Dec. 23, 1919 Coates Sept. 25, 1923 Harris Mar. 6, 1934 Frederick Nov. 2, 1937 Dewitt Apr. 12, 1938 Pelosi Dec. 30, 1941 

